Richard McMaster

A 22 year old dude.Massively into Pop Punk/Punk Rock and Ska music. I play in a Pop Punk band called This Week's Scandal - www.facebook.com/thisweeksscandalHuge sports fan, I pretty much watch everything and anything.Pro Wrestling is a big passion of mine in addition to writing.

Breast cancer is the most common form of cancer in the UK. According to Cancer Research UK, breast cancer incidence rates have increased 70% since the 1970s and 6% in the last ten years. Meanwhile, the disease accounted for 11,633 deaths in 2010. The English Premier League’s television deal is worth a massive £3 billion, it generates the highest revenue of any football league in the world and Wayne Rooney earned £17.2 million pounds in the 2011-2012 season.

As I sit here on a bleak Monday night, we’re mere hours away from a massive change in the World…of Warcraft. Yes, the ultimate target for nerd satire is releasing its 4th expansion ‘Mists of Pandaria’ today (25th September 2012). Despite the game being a global phenomenon, I still have to defend myself whenever people ask why I play it. Well consider this a rallying cry for all you players out there, student and none student alike.

TV opening credits are often under appreciated. They’re either endured or skipped entirely. However, it doesn’t have to be this way. Opening credits are often flashy, emotionally engaging and feature some incredible imagery and music that help set up the show. Sure, there are some that just list the actors, writers and directors on a black backdrop, but they won’t be given the time of day here. Here’s some of the greatest, most iconic and fun opening credit sequences.

TV opening credits are often under appreciated. They’re either endured or skipped entirely. However, it doesn’t have to be this way. Opening credits are often flashy, emotionally engaging and feature some incredible imagery and music that help set up the show. Sure, there are some that just list the actors, writers and directors on a black backdrop, but they won’t be given the time of day here. Here’s some of the greatest, most iconic and fun opening credit sequences.

Here are a couple of words that are thrown about a lot recently: ‘Social Media.’ That phrase that describes the abundance of social networks now available to the public. Yet, Social Media is quickly becoming less of a social experiment and more corporate tool. Isn’t enough - enough?

Summer is here isn’t it? It sure doesn’t seem like it with all this rain we’re having. Nevertheless, with the poor weather comes a great time to immerse yourself in a video game. With The Walking Dead television series becoming such a huge success both critically and in the ratings, the zombie genre has seen somewhat of a resurgence in popularity and credibility. This is where ‘DayZ’ comes in.

Let’s face it, as a student you sometimes find yourself with a lot of free time on your hands, right? It’s what to do to wile away the hours that can be frustrating to figure out. If you’re a musician then starting a band is an option that will no doubt cross your mind. The question is: is it worth it?

Leeds is certainly no stranger to ‘alternative’ music. In fact, Leeds is positively teeming with club nights that cater to an ‘alternative’ audience (I hate that label, don’t you?) at a variety of different venues across the city. From the extremely popular ‘Fuel’ at Leeds Met to the DIY approach at ‘Hello Bastards’, there’s something to satisfy alternative music lovers ears, whatever their particular genre preference.

One of the club nights that run at The Cockpit is ‘Slam Dunk.’ Slam Dunk has been a successful Tuesday night staple for 11 years and through its immense popularity has spawned its own music label that has launched the careers of such acts as ‘You Me At Six’ and ‘Decade’. Additionally, it is safe to say that without Slam Dunks popular playlist of Pop Punk, Metal, Ska, Emo, Hardcore and Pop ,various similar clubnights would not have cropped up nationwide. Such is the success of the club night that in 2006, Slam Dunk set up their own music festival. In 2010, the festival expanded and established a site at London’s Hatfield University. Slam Dunk Festival is a shining star amongst the various festivals held in Leeds.

Pro wrestling. That unique hybrid genre that bends the conventions of melodrama, sporting competition, live entertainment, comedy, theatre and even sadomasochism. Despite its many complexities, pro wrestling has often been met with the ire of non-fans due to the fakery involved with the production of storylines and the attempt to dupe fans through pre-determined match ups. Nevertheless, chances are you’ve seen at least some wrestling action in your lifetime.

Indeed, as a lifelong pro wrestling fan with a knowledge of the ins and outs of the business I may be a little biased but pro wrestling is one of the worlds greatest art forms. You haven’t really experienced the charm of the craft until you see it live and there’s ample opportunity to see pro wrestling events all year round. While the larger WWE and TNA promotions visit the UK maybe once or twice a year, there are numerous independent UK wrestling organisations nationwide that put on entertaining shows at a fraction of the cost. A day or night out at a show will be more than satisfying, so, whether you’re a fan who’s never been to a live event or a non-fan that is more than sceptical, here are five reasons for you to consider attending a pro wrestling show.